Seven crew members are missing after a drone attack set a chemical tanker ablaze off Romania's Black Sea coast on Thursday, the latest in a string of strikes on commercial shipping that has heightened fears the war in Ukraine is spreading to NATO territory. Separately, an oil tanker caught fire in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media. The two situations are unconnected, but both involve growing risks to civilian shipping on major trade routes.
The San Marino-flagged Wine Trader, sailing empty from Tunisia to Romania, reported explosions at about 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT), roughly 13 nautical miles (24km) from Sulina, a port town at the mouth of the Danube. Of its 12 crew, five were rescued, Romanian authorities said, and one had scalp burns while another suffered mild smoke inhalation. Search teams, including two Black Hawk helicopters and two rescue boats, are working in very high waves. A day earlier, the Comoros-flagged tanker Yara J caught fire in Romanian waters after a drone strike, though its crew put out the flames and were safe.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan, speaking in Brussels, confirmed both ships were hit by drones but did not name their origin. "There will be a reaction from the Romanian state," he said. Romania's defence ministry said a group of air targets was monitored near Ukraine's Snake Island overnight and that a drone briefly entered Romanian airspace before vanishing from radar, although the acting defence minister said no drone was seen heading toward the Yara J. Dan and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, with talks reportedly covering equipment to protect shipping and whether to invoke Article 4, which allows allies to request consultations over a perceived threat. Rutte said NATO has strengthened its eastern flank, including counter-drone capabilities.
The attacks follow others this month. On Tuesday, strikes off Bulgaria hit the cargo ship HS Dignity, which sank with 11 crew missing, and the Ukrainian-operated Chelsea 3, whose 15 crew were evacuated. Radev said Russia was likely responsible, and Bulgaria summoned Russia's envoy. Moscow says it is targeting ships carrying military and dual-use cargo to Ukrainian ports, while Kyiv and its European allies say vessels carrying grain and other civilian goods are being hit. Russia has rejected calls for a naval ceasefire and blames Ukraine for attacks on Russian merchant ships. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the situation "another front of escalation" that was "unacceptable", and Turkey has urged both sides to stop.
Far to the southeast, Iranian media said a tanker burned in the Gulf of Oman after entering what Iran's navy called a prohibited zone with its tracking systems off, the second such incident in 24 hours. Its name, flag and crew status are unknown, and the cause was not stated. The container ship GFS Pride sank on Wednesday, with all 21 crew rescued; Iran's Revolutionary Guards cited a sea mine, while maritime sources pointed to an unidentified projectile. The cargo ship Cape Dao also sank after being struck. Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed in February at the start of its war with the United States, which responded with a naval blockade.
The Black Sea's western coast is a key corridor for Ukrainian exports and imports, and both Russia and Ukraine are major grain exporters, so continued attacks threaten safety at sea and wider trade.